Curtain track system

ABSTRACT

A Curtain Track System including an elongate drive member rotatable about its longitudinal axis and provided with a plurality of drive sleeves having continuous helical trackways on the surfaces thereof, and curtain support members having wheels at one end supporting them on a support track within a housing surrounding the drive member. The curtain support members are so positioned on the support track as to allow them to run along the track longitudinally of the system. The other end of each curtain support member extends outwardly of the housing through a slot in the wall of the housing to a point at which they are attached to a curtain, and the positioning on the support track is also such that each curtain support member will pivot under the weight of the curtain, about its point of contact on the support track into a position where means on each curtain support member will be in driving engagement with the drive member and whereby upon motion of a curtain support member being inhibited disengagement of the curtain support member from the helical trackway will occur.

United States Patent [1 1 [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:240,673

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 8, 1971 Australia 4546/71[52] 0.8. CI 160/343, 16/87.6 R, 160/331 [51] Int. Cl A47h 5/06 [58]Field of Search 160/343, 173, 123, 160/124, 125, 126, 331, 347; 16/87.2,87.4, 87.6, 87.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,747 7/1962 Hill160/347 X 3,055,420 9/1962 Faro et a1. 160/347 2,801,690 8/1 957 Bennett160/343 1,823,909 9/1931 Meier 160/343 3,003,552 10/1961 Eilenberger...160/343 X 3,054,446 9/1962 Cayton 160/173 3,400,425 9/ 1968 Polizzi160/343 X St., Eltham, Australia Bourne [4 Nov. 27, 1973 41 CURTAINTRACK SYSTEM Prim'r Exaih'inp-Mervinsiein' .[76] Inventor: Henry ArthurBourne, 17 Bridge Kama" Attorney-+Harold L. Stowell et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A Curtain Track System including an elongate drive memberrotatable about its longitudinal axis and pro vided with a plurality ofdrive sleeves having continuous helical trackways on the surfacesthereof, and curtain support members having'wheels at one end supportingthem on a support track within a housing surrounding the drive member.The curtain support members are so positioned on the support track as toallow them to run along the track longitudinally of the system. Theother end of each curtain support member extends outwardly of thehousing through a slot in the wall of the housing to a point at whichthey are at- 'tached to a curtain, and the positioninggn thesupport 11Claims. 12 Drawing Figures CURTAIN TRACK SYSTEM This invention relatesto a curtain track system, and more particularly to a system whereconventional cord systems are not used for drawing individual curtainsupport members along the track to open and close the curtain.

Furthermore, whereas this specification will be directed particularly tothe use of the track system in relation to opening and closing curtainsor drapes, it may be used in situations where partitioning eitherflexible, or having flexible joints between rigid members, is requiredto be opened and closed from one or both ends.

Furthermore, whereas the invention does not require conventional cordsystems to actually draw the curtain supports along a curtain rail,curtain cord may be used to actuate the novel means of this inventionwhich move the curtain support members along a support track.

With known curtain track systems the curtain is supported by supportmembers which in turn are supported for movement along a support rail,or are connected to wheels which are mounted to move along a supportrail. The support members are moved by hand along the rail to draw thecurtain open or closed, or may be moved by means of a length of curtaincord connected to the support member most remote from the end of thecurtain track where the curtain accumulates when open. Upon pulling onthe curtain cord the support member is pulled towards the end and meetseach intervening support member in turn to push all supports to the endof the curtain track.

Such systems have inherent disadvantages in that with continual use thecord becomes worn, and may break, requireing complete replacement of thecord throughout the whole system. Furthermore, most systems do notcompensate for undue strain that may be imparted to the system should itjam, or the operator tend to overload the system after it has reachedeither the fully opened or closed position, which operations damage thecord itself, or any connections between the curtain support members andthe curtain.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome some or all of theproblems associated with known curtain track systems.

The invention therefore envisages a curtain track system comprising atleast one elongate drive member rotatable about its longitudinal axisand provided with a helical trackway on the surface thereof, at leastone curtain support member, the, or each, said curtain support memberbeing provided with trackway engaging means to engage and co-operatewith said helical trackway on said drive member, with the, or each, saidcurtain support member being provided with means whereby said curtaincan be attached thereto, and means to rotate said drive member wherebythe, or each, said curtain support member will ride along in engagementwith said helical trackway and be movable out of engagement with saidtrackway when movement of the curtain support member is inhibited.

The basic construction provides for a curtain in the open position to begathered at one end of said curtain track system, with one supportmember attached to a portion of the curtain remote from the end of saidcurtain track system whereby upon rotation of said cylindrical drivemember the curtain support member engaging said helical 'trackway willmove along said helical trackway and along a support track meanscarrying said portion of the curtain with it, until it reached the otherend of, or a desired position in, said curtain track system where saidcurtain will be fully, or partly, extended and the tension generatedtherein will prevent the curtain support member moving any further onsaid helical trackway.

Preferably the curtain support member is held on said helical trackwaybe being pivoted into engagement with said helical trackway about saidsupport track means by virtue of the weight of the curtain hanging fromthe other end of said curtain support member. However, upon the curtainreaching its fully extended position, or its fully gathered position,the tension generated in the curtain will overcome the trackway engagingforce generated by the weight of the curtain, and the curtain supportmember will disengage from, and ride over, the helcial trackway whilstthe cylindrical drive member continues to rotate.

Preferably the cylindrical drive member is surrounded by a housingcoextensive with the member and provided with a longitudinal slotthrough a wall thereof, through which the, or each, curtain supportmember passes, whilst for heavy loads the support track means isprovided in the housing and is in the form of a passage of box-shapedcross-section extending along the length of the housing in one of theinner corners thereof, with a slot formed in a lower wall of the housingthrough which the curtain support members pass. The end of the, or each,curtain support member within the housing is provided with a supportwheel for rotational movement about an axle shaft, which wheel runsalong and supports the curtain support member, and thus the curtain, onthe inner surface of the lower wail of the passage in the housing.

Alternatively a more simpler construction for heavy loads may envisage aconstruction, which instead of a box-shaped cross-sectional passage,utilises a shelf provided inside the housing upon which the, or each,wheel travels. An upstanding flange may be provided on the edge of theshelf to prevent the wheels running off, or disengaging from, the shelf.

For lighter loads the support track means provided in the housing may beprovided with a beading along one edge of the slot through the wall ofthe housing, with each curtain support member being provided with meansapproximately midway between its ends to engage and pivot it on thebeading providing said track means.

Alternatively for even better support of the curtain support members onthe housing both the support track means described for heavy loads, andthat described for light loads, could be provided in the housing.

Alternatively the support track means may be provided at a positionoutside, but adjacent, the housing, whilst the curtain support membersare so positioned and dimensioned, as to extend outwardly of the housingso that the means for engaging the support track means will be engagingrelationship with the support track means.

Preferably the extreme end of the helical trackway may be formed totaper out, whereby the trackway engaging means on the curtain supportmembers will roll around a smooth cylindrical surface at the end of thecylindrical drive member.

The means on the end of the curtain support member for engaging thehelical trackway may be such that engagement between it and the helicaltrackway does not extend beyond half the circumference of thecylindrical drive member, so that the engaging end may be readily forcedout of engagement and ride over the helical trackway when the supportmember reaches the point of maximum extension, or gathering, for theportion of the curtain to which it is attached.

Preferably the helical trackway is in the form of a helical groove, andthe engaging means is in the form of a half, or less than half, nut. Ifrequired the pitch between the helical groove may be made relativelyshort such that the engaging means overlaps two or more grooves and isprovided with two or more engaging thread portions.

Alternatively the helical trackway may be formed by a helical ribextending around, and along, the cylindrical drive member whilst theengaging means is a groove in the end of the support member.

Preferably the groove in the drive member or the curtain support memberhas sloping sides to allow the mating rib or thread portion to easilyslide out of engagement when required.

Preferably the means to rotate the cylindrical drive member is anelectric motor provided with means for reversing the direction ofrotation to allow opening and closing of the curtain.

Alternatively the means to rotate the cylindrical drive member may be acontinuous cord, part of which is wound around a drum connected via agear train to the cylindrical drive member, with the remainder of thecord hanging down on either side of the drum and extending downalongside the one end of the curtain. Upon pulling in one direction byhand the drum, and thus the cylindrical drive member, will be caused torotate causing the curtain to open whilst pulling in the other directioncauses reverse rotation and thus closing of the curtain.

Preferably a simple gear transmission is provided between the drivingmeans and the cylindrical member.

A more practical extension of the basic idea of the curtain track systemof this invention may be to provide a cylindrical drive member formedwith two helical trackway portions one right and one left handedextending from either end of the track system to meet in the middle.This provides for curtains in two parts being drawn together to a closedposition from each end of the trackway as the cylindrical drive memberis rotated in one direction.

A still further extension is to provide a programmed opening sequencefor curtains extending over a long length of track systems whereby amultiplicity of curtain sections are provided. The cylindrical drivemember is, in such circumstances, provided with a multiplicity ofhelical trackway portions along the length of the curtain track withalternate right and left handed helical trackway.

As the cylindrical drive member rotates in one direction each of thesections of curtains are drawn together whilst rotation in the otherdirection draws the curtains apart.

Preferably the cylindrical drive member is formed by a rod or conduitonto which a number of helical trackway members or scrolls in the formof cylindrical sleeves are pushed. The inside of the sleeve may beformed with splines to form tight engagement with the rod or conduit,and allows easy relative movement longitudinally of the rod for axiallypushing the sleeves into place on the rod. However, at the same timethey substantially prevent relative rotational movement betweenthemselves and the rod.

Each scroll or helical trackway member is of a convenient length wherebya required length of trackway can be produced by supplying and combiningtogether the necessary number of scrolls or trackway members. One end ofeach scroll or trackway member is provided with means to engagecorresponding means formed in the end of an adjacent scroll or memberwhereby accurate location of adjacent ends to allow the groove or rib ofone scroll or trackway member to load directly into that of the adjacentscroll or member is achieved.

The required number of scrolls or trackway members may be combinedtogether and slipped into the require length of pipe or donduit. Wheretwo sections of curtain are to be drawn to gether from opposite ends ofthe curtain track system a section of left hand helical trackway isbuilt-up for one end of the system and a section of right hand helicaltrackway for the other end which sections are then pushed onto the rodor conduit.

In a system where a number of curtain sections are drawn together inprogrammed sequence over a long length of trackway the required numberof right and left hand sections are built-up and pushed onto the rod orconduit.

Preferably the means for attaching each curtain support member to thecurtain are merely holes in the curtain support members with attachmentmeans of the normal type linking it with the curtain.

Preferably the means of pivotally mounting the curtain support memberson the support track means for for the light load situation, where thesupport track means is provided by a beading on one edge of the slot inthe housing and a slot of cylindrical section is formed in the curtainsupport member opening out of the member, the member is slipped onto thebeading longitudinally from either end of the housing but cannot bedisengaged transversely of the beading.

Furthermore, the above disclosed feature of the, or each, curtainsupport member being pivotally supported on the support track means andheld in engaging with the helical trackway by the weight of the.curtain,which is overcome when tension in the curtain reaches a particular valuecausing the support member to ride over the helical trackway, could bedispensed with and a curtain support member straddling the drive memberin combination with a trackway engaging dog biased into a trackwayengaging position, which dog would remain in the engaging position untilsuch time an open or closed position is reached whereby it would beforced out of the trackway by the pressure of the side of the trackwayon the dog and ride over the helical trackway.

One preferred embodiment of the invention as particularly arranged forcurtain closing from both ends of the curtain track system, and forcarrying heavy or light loads, will now be described, with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1, is a general view of a curtain track system according to onepreferred form of the invention.

FIG. 2, is an end sectional view of the system of FIG. 1, showing thehousing, the helical track means and one of the curtain support membersor hangers.

FIG. 3, is an end sectional view of the system showing the housing, thehelical track means and an intermediate bearing.

FIG. 4, is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5, is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6, is an end view of the housing of the system, showing thecombined end cap and end bearing support.

FIG. 7, is a front sectional view of part of the system at one endthereof showing the helical track means and an accumulation of curtainsupport members or hangers,

FIG. 8, is a view of a curtain support member or hanger showing inparticular the side thereof normally adjacent the helical track means,

FIG. 9, is an end sectional view of the system, showing the drive endsupport bearing and a splined drive sleeve at the end for connection viaa gear system to a manually operated, or powered, drive means,

FIG. 10, is a sectional view taken along line -10 of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11, is an end sectional view of an alternative form of theinvention, showing the housing, a modified form of helical track means,an intermediate bearing, and one of a modified form of curtain supportmember or hanger, and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 1, the curtain track system generally indicated as 1,comprises a housing in the form of a tubular hollow box of generallysquare cross-section having a top wall 3, two downwardly extending sidewalls 4 and 5, and a lower wall 6 having a slot 7 formed whereinproviding a through passage along the full length of the housing 2.

Supported within the housing 2 to extend along approximately the wholelength thereof is a cylindrical drive means 10 for the curtain supportmembers or hangers 11 by which means the support members or hanger 11are driven to move along a support track means in the form of a ledge 12provided withinthe housing.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 to 4, the cylindrical drive means 10comprises a drive shaft 13 in the form of a metal rod or conduit. Aplurality of scrolls or drive sleeve members 14 are provided around andcoaxial with the driveshaft 13 in firm fitting engagement therewith. Itis anticipated that each scroll or drive sleeve member 14 will beapproximately six inches long, and a series of members 14 will becapable of being joined end to end to make up the desired length ofdrive sleeve required.

A helical groove 15 is formed in the surface of each drive sleevemembers, which groove 15 is of a generally V-shaped cross-section. Inorder to provide a continuous helical groove 15 where a number of drivesleeve members 14 are joined together accurate location of adjacentjoining ends of individual members 14 must be achieved so that thehelical groove 15 on one member will run into the helical groove 15 inan adjacent member. This is achieved by providing'at one end ofeachmember a generally L-shaped extension 16 in an inner edge 17 of whichthe helical groove terminates. A corresponding L-shaped notch 18 isprovided in the other end of each member adjacent one edge 19 of whichthe other end of the helical groove terminates. When the L-shapedextension 16 on one member 14 is fitted into the L-shaped notch 18 atthe other end of the adjacent member 14, the helical groove 15terminating in the extension 16 is aligned with, and runs directly into,the helical groove 15 terminating in the notch 18 of the end of theadjacent member 14.

Any number of scroll or drive sleeve members 14 may be joined end to endto provide a continual scroll or drive sleeve having a continuoushelical groove 15 along the drive shaft 13.

In this embodiment where it is intended that the curtain be in twosections which are drawn together from each end of the curtain track, aplurality of scrolls or drive sleeve members 14 having left hand helicalgrooves 15 are provided extending from one end to approximately thecentral portion of the curtain track, whilst extending from the otherend a plurality of scroll or drive sleeve members 14 having right handhelical grooves 15 are combined to extend along to meet the left handsection at the central portion. Such a construction allows the curtainsupport members (to be later described) for each end section of thecurtain, to

move in opposite directions when the drive shaft 13 rotatesin aparticular direction.

The interior of each scroll or drive sleeve member is formed with aplurality of axially extending ribs which form a close fit with thedrive shaft, but allow for any variation between the outside diameter ofthe drive shaft'and the inside diameter of the sleeve member. The ribsare generally of a relatively insignificant height, and are not shown inthe drawings.

The axially extending ribs allow the members 14 to be pushed onto thedrive shaft 13 from one end with as little effort as possible, butgenerally prevent rotation of the sleeve 14 relative to the shaft 13under normal operating conditions. The assembled drive means 10 issupported in the housing at each end, and at spaced intervalsthere-along by end and intermediate bearing members.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 5, the intermediate bearingmembers are provided at approximately 18 inch intervals along the lengthof the housing, or at whatever interval provides convenient and suitablesupport for a particular length of curtain track system. Eachintermediate bearing member generally consists of a block 20 of plasticsmaterial, having a slot 21 therein for receiving a rib or ledge 22extending inwardly of the housing for locating the intermediate bearingmember in the housing. The face of each bearing member adjacent thedrive means 10, for which it is to provide support, has a cylindricalrecess 23 provided therein, which recess partially surrounds the drivemeans over an included angle of more than l so as to positively retainand support the drive means.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the end cap 9, including an end bearingsupport, and provided at one end of the housing comprises a fiat endcover portion 24 from the inner face of which extends an end bearingsupport portion 25 including a ledge 26 which 'abuts underneath the rib22 on the inside of the housing 2 to locate the end cap in the housing.The bearing support portion includes a circular recess 27 for receiving,and providinga bearing support for, one end of the drive means 10.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a further end housing support 28 isprovided at the driven end of the drive means, and is shaped and locatedin a similar fashion to the bearing support portion 25 included as partof the end cap 9 at the other end of the housing. At the driven end ofthe drive means a cylindrical drive member 29 is provided, internallyribbed to allow driving engagement with the drive shaft 13 at thispoint, and further including adjacent the extreme end thereof aplurality of splines 30 for engagement with a corresponding notchedoutput shaft from a manually operated pulley drum or a combination gearbox and reversable electric motor such as 31 and 32 in FIG. 1.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the curtain support memberor hangers 11, are generally L-shaped and are suspended in the housing2, by means of a support wheel 33, rotatable about an axle 34 held in ahole in the upper end of the member or hanger 11 and positioned to ridealong the ledge 12. The hanger 11 includes a dog-leg section 35approximately mid way along the vertical leg 38 of the L-shape. Thedog-leg section includes a ridge 36, which in operation will nestlewithin the helical groove 15 in the sleeve members 14 in drivenengagement therewith. The lower end of the vertical leg 38 extendsoutwardly of the housing 2 through the slot 7 in the lower wall 6 of thehousing 2. The other leg 39 of the L-shaped hanger 11, outside thehousing, extends substantially horizontally and includes a hole 37 forthe receipt of a curtain support ring (not shown).

Referring particularly to FIG. 8 of the drawings there is shown the sideof the hanger l1 normally adjacent the drive means, which includes theridge 36 which in operation nestles in the groove 15 and is formed at anangle to correspond with the angle of the helical groove 15. Thosehangers 11, which would normally cooperate with a reverse helical groovewould include a ridge 36 angled in the opposite direction.

It will be observed particularly from FIG. 2 that each hanger 11, willpivot about the point of contact between the support wheel 33 and theshelf 12, and the weight of the curtain acting through its point ofconnection to the hanger at the hole 37, will pivot the hanger into aposition whereby the ridge 36 engages the helical groove 15 to be drivenalong the shelf 12 by the drive means as it rotates. The ridge 36 of theV- shaped section corresponds substantially with the helical V-groove inthe drive sleeve 14. The curved dogleg section extends for approximatelyone-sixteenth of the circumference of the drive sleeve 14. A pluralityof such curtain support members or hangers 11, are suspended from thetrack means and are attached at spaced intervals along the upper edge ofthe curtain, and include a plurality of left hand support members forthe left hand drive sleeve at one end of the curtain track and aplurality of right hand support members for the right hand drive sleeveat the other end.

With the curtain in the open position, the curtain portion at one end isgathered together with its support members or hangers 11 adjacent oneend of the track as shown in FIG. 7. Upon rotation of the drive shaft13, and thus the drive sleeves 14, the support members or hangers 11 inengagement with the helical groove 15 begin to move along on the ledge12, as shown in FIG. 7, until all the hangers have been drawn along thesystem such that when the support member or hanger ll closest the endhas been drawn from the end sufficient to tension the curtain materialbetween it and the end of the system to impose a force of a valuegreater than that applied to the hanger by the weight of the curtain theridge 36 will merely ride out of the helical groove 15 and over thehelical groove moving underneath it as the drive members 14 continue torotate. When the next adjacent support member reaches a distance fromthe aforesaid hanger 1 1 sufficient to tension the curtain materialbetween it and the aforesaid hanger and thus the end of the curtaintrack system it too rides out over the helical groove against the weightof the curtain hanging therefrom, and so on until the curtain is fullydrawn where the last support member behaves likewise.

The same operation is repeated for the curtain section being drawn infrom the other end of the curtain track as the drive sleeve rotates.

Reversal of the rotation of the cylindrical drive means 10 causes thesupport hangers 11 to re-engage the helical groove 15 and draw thecurtain portions apart and toward each end of the track system.

The housing may be attached to a support structure for the system, bymeans of screws or bolts passing through holes provided in the upperflat portions 40 and 41 forming parts of the top wall 3.

The drive shaft may be rotated by means of a reversible electric motor32 through a gear transmission 31, or alternatively by means of anoperating cord looped several times around a drive drum connected to thedrive means via the cylindrical drive member 29. Pulling of the cord inone direction causes rotation and opening of the curtain whilst pullingof the cord in the opposite direction reverses the rotation and closesthe curtain.

If required idler sections may be provided at each end of the curtaintrack on the drive sleeve and between the right and left hand drivesections of the sleeve, whereby curtain supports adjacent each end, andbetween the left and right hand sections, may run out of the groove andride around the circumference of the idler sections. The cylindricalmember 29, being ungrooved automatically provides an idler sectionadjacent the drive end of the system.

When large areas are to be covered by a curtain which is split intoseveral individually openable and closable sections, the opening andclosing sequence may be programmed by providing a series of alternativeleft and right hand drive sleeves sections 14. Rotation of the driveshaft 13 in one direction will open each curtain section simultaneouslywhilst reversal rotation will cause closing simultaneously.

As previously mentioned as an alternative the helical trackway may beprovided by a helical rib extending around and along, the cylindricaldrive member whilst the engaging means is a groove in the end of thesupport member. Such an alternative is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, whichare similar to the views of FIGS. 2 and 4 and where appropriate the samereference numerals are used. In this alternative embodiment the groove15 in the drive sleeve members is replaced by a helical rib 42, whilstthe mating ridge 36 in the hanger 11 is replaced by a groove 43. Theintermediate bearing members 20' are longer in this embodiment in orderto provide sufficient bearing support along the top of the rib 42.

In a second preferred form of the invention the hangers l l are notsupported via the wheel 33 on a shaft 12, but instead each hanger issupported on a beading formed along the edge of the slot 7. The beadingextends along the full length of the slot in the housing to provide thetrack means upon which curtain support members are supported and run.

In this second embodiement each curtain support member has a centralsemi-cylindrical section of substantially semi-circular cross-sectionfor engaging the beading providing the track means, with a curtainconnecting section extending away from one side and a drive sleeveengaging section extending away from the other side. Thesemi-cylindrical centre section engages and rides along the beadproviding the track means on the housing. The cylinder is nearlycomplete but has a passage opening out of the section so that the membermay be slid onto the bead .at one end of the housing but cannot beremoved by forcing the member laterally of the beading. Extendingdownwardly from the central portion is the curtain connecting sectionsimply in the form of a flat section integral with the central sectionand provided with a hole at the extreme end for the receipt of normalcurtain attachment means such as a curtain ring.

Extending upwardly from the centre section, into the interior of thehousing, is the drive sleeve engaging means in the form of a curvedengaging section corresponding substantially with the curvature of thedrive means and having formed therein a rib of V-shaped sectioncorresponding substantially with the helical V groove in the drivesleeve. The curved section extends for approximately one-sixteenth ofthe circumference of the drive sleeve. The operation of the system ofthis second embodiement is similar to that described for the firstembodiement In a third form of the invention the supporting track meansof both the first and second forms of the invention may be combined inthe one track system.

Preferably the housing is made from extruded metal material such asaluminium, the drive shaft from metal tubing or conduit, the scroll ordrive sleeve members bearing members, end caps and the curtain supportmembers from plastics materials, such as nylon, whilst the geartransmission or the drive drum, whichever is used, are also of plasticsmaterial. Also the housing including one or both form of track means maybe an extruded heavy duty plastic section.

Normal curtain cord may be used when operation via a drive drum isutilised.

It is to be understood that the invention includes any modificationsthat would be envisaged by a person skilled in the art which do notdepart from the spirit of the invention and any such modifications areto be considered within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A curtain track system comprising an elongate drive member providedwith a helical trackway on the surface thereof, means to rotate thedrive member about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of curtain supportmembers, helical trackway engaging means on at least one of said curtainsupport members to engage and cooperate with said helical trackway onsaid drive member, curtain attaching means carried by each of saidcurtain supporting members, a support track for each of said curtainsupport members about which said at least one support member pivotsbetween a trackway engaging position under the weight of a curtainattached thereto and a trackway disengaging position when movement ofsaid at least one curtain support member is inhibited and the force ofthe weight of the curtain attached thereto is overcome.

2. A curtain track system according to claim 1, wherein the elongatedrive member is surrounded by a housing co-extensive with the member,said housing being shaped to provide a longitudinal slot through a wallthereof, through which each curtain support member passes.

3. A curtain track system according to claim 2, wherein said supporttrack is formed within said housing, and a wheel engagable with saidsupport track rotatably mounted on each of said curtain support members.

4. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supporttrack is positioned in said housing to allow each said curtain supportmember to pivot about the point of contact between said wheel andsupport track in a plane transverse of said housing.

5. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongatedrive member includes an inner drive shaft connected to said means forrotating said cylindrical drive member, and at least one drive sleevepositioned about said inner drive shaft, and wherein said helicaltrackway is provided in the circumferential surface of said at least onedrive sleeve.

6. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 5, including a pluralityof said drive sleeves forming at least one drive sleeve section,cooperating connector means at the ends of said drive sleeves, saidcooperating connector means being so aligned that when the drive sleevesare united to form a drive sleeve section the helical groove in onedrive sleeve is aligned with the helical groove in an adjacent drivesleeve.

7. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 6, wherein there are twodrive sleeve sections, wherein one of said drive sleeve sections isprovided by at least one drive sleeve having left-handed helicaltrackways, and the other of said drive sleeve sections is provided by atleast one drive sleeve having right-handed helical trackways, andwherein the curtain support members cooperating with said drive sleevesections are formed to engage and cooperate with the helical trackway inthe particular drive sleeve section with which they cooperate, wherebythe system will allow opening and closing of two curtain sections one ateach end of said system.

8. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 7, including idler sleevesections having cylindrical external surfaces provided at either end ofsaid system.

9. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said helicaltrackway comprises a V-shaped groove and the trackway engaging meanscomprises a compatible V-shaped rib angled to suit the helix of thetrackway with which it cooperates.

10. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said helicaltrackway comprises a V-shaped rib and the trackway engaging meanscomprises a compatible V-shaped groove angled to suit the helix of thetrackway with which it cooperates.

11. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means torotate said elongate drive member comprises a reversible electric motor.

1. A curtain track system comprising an elongate drive member providedwith a helical trackway on the surface thereof, means to rotate thedrive member about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of curtain supportmembers, helical trackway engaging means on at least one of said curtainsupport members to engage and cooperate with said helical trackway onsaid drive member, curtain attaching means carried by each of saidcurtain supporting members, a support track for each of said curtainsupport members about which said at least one support member pivotsbetween a trackway engaging position under the weight of a curtainattached thereto and a trackway disengaging position when movement ofsaid at least one curtain support member is inhibited and the force ofthe weight of the curtain attached thereto is overcome.
 2. A curtaintrack system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate drive member issurrounded by a housing co-extensive with the member, said housing beingshaped to provide a longitudinal slot through a wall thereof, throughwhich each curtain support member passes.
 3. A curtain track systemaccording to claim 2, wherein said support track is formed within saidhousing, and a wheel engagable with said support track rotatably mountedon each of said curtain support members.
 4. A curtain track system asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the support track is positioned in saidhousing to allow each said curtain support member to pivot about thepoint of contact between said wheel and support track in a planetransverse of said housing.
 5. A curtain track system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said elongate drive member includes an inner driveshaft connected to said means for rotating said cylindrical drivemember, and at least one drive sleeve positioned about said inner driveshaft, and wherein said helical trackway is provided in thecircumferential surface of said at least one drive sleeve.
 6. A curtaintrack system as claimed in claim 5, including a plurality of said drivesleeves forming at least one drive sleeve section, cooperating connectormeans at the ends of said drive sleeves, said cooperating connectormeans being so aligned that when the drive sleeves are united to form adrive sleeve section the helical groove in one drive sleeve is alignedwith the helical groove in an adjacent drive sleeve.
 7. A curtain tracksystem as claimed in claim 6, wherein there are two drive sleevesections, wherein one of said drive sleeve sections is provided by atleast one drive sleeve having left-handed helical trackways, and theother of said drive sleeve sections is provided by at least one drivesleeve having right-handed helical trackways, and wherein the curtainsupport members cooperating with said drive sleeve sections are formedto engage and cooperate with the helical trackway in the particulardrive sleeve section with which they cooperate, whereby the system willallow opening and closing of two curtain sections one at each end ofsaid system.
 8. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 7, includingidler sleeve sections having cylindrical external surfaces provided ateither end of said system.
 9. A curtain track system as claimed in claim1, wherein said helical trackway comprises a V-shaped groove and thetrackway engaging means comprises a compatible V-shaped rib angled tosuit the helix of the trackway with which it cooperates.
 10. A curtaintrack system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said helical trackwaycomprises a V-shaped rib and the trackway engaging means comprises acompatible V-shaped groove angled to suit the helix of the trackway withwhich it cooperates.
 11. A curtain track system as claimed in claim 1,wherein said means to rotate said elongate drive member comprises areversible electric motor.